Third Test: England v South Africa, The Oval, July 27-31

[budgetmeansbudget]

No, but Elgar has just taken a nasty rap on the fingers!

Then there's mind games with the openers, and making SAstay in the field longer.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Disappointing debut for Malan. Question over whether he'll stay in with either Ballance being back, or a specialist spinner coming in.

Got topple over issues with the ball coming back into him.

Don't go back to Ballance, I didn't follow beginning of test, is he injured then?

Broken finger.

[Dr Cricket]

Warne does know that england got 140 overs plus to get SA out and 98 overs to be bowled tomorrow.
and still 41 overs remaining today.
Which surprising enough the overrates is quite ok today, maybe the bowlers don't wanna stay 1 hr extra in the field today.
doubt they wanna have to bowl 46-50 overs in the last session.

[Dr Cricket]

When is tea anyway.
shouldn't it be tea at 3.40

[budgetmeansbudget]

When is tea anyway.
shouldn't it be tea at 3.40

I thought that.

I've totally lost track of playing times these days, especially when there's been time lost.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Maybe going to make up overs later so tea has been pushed back. But triggered by the declaration.

[Dr Cricket]

Maybe going to make up overs later so tea has been pushed back.

probably done it so the final session isn't a big session.
remember before something like 50 overs in a session can't happen anymore and they need an extra drinks break or something.
when you consider the slow overrates and team generally bowling more slow in the morning session it is quite easy to leave a big session for the end.
the final session could end 7.30 if overrates are slow.
although they look fine today, so maybe a 7.15 finish and not many overs to bowl either only 39 overs which is only one over extra where they should be at this point.

[Durhamfootman]

so we think we might need a 500 cushion?

Seems wholly unnecessary. I thought we'd moved on from the days of Captain Cautious

[Dr Cricket]

if you can't bowl a team out in 139 overs you won't bowl a team out in 145-150 overs.

[Arthur Crabtree]

SA have got bit of previous in the fourth innings.

[Dr Cricket]

so we think we might need a 500 cushion?

Seems wholly unnecessary. I thought we'd moved on from the days of Captain Cautious

TBH what ever root did england would win easily.
root probably wanted to declare early, but Westley and jenning batted slowly which is understandable.

[Dr Cricket]

You can tell Sky coverage is bias when you haven't even heard them dissect Kuhn poor performances, average of 13 and you barely see anyone talking about him yet all the talks is about jennings, Balance, Westley and Malan.

[Dr Cricket]

jennings should be dropped just for that drop.

[Dr Cricket]

kuhn goes for 11.

[budgetmeansbudget]

jennings should be dropped just for that drop.

It won't help his cause, that's for sure.

Commentators suggesting its easier for batting right now, I don't think so at all.